Horatio Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford

Horatio Walpole, 2nd Earl of Orford (13 or 24 June 1752 – 15 June 1822), styled The Honourable Horatio Walpole between 1757 and 1806 and Lord Walpole between 1806 and 1809, was a British peer and politician.

Background Orford was the son of Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, son of Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole (of Wolterton), brother of Prime Minister Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford. His mother was Lady Rachel Cavendish, daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire. He gained the courtesy title Lord Walpole when the earldom of Orford was revived in favour of his father in 1806.

Political career Orford was elected Member of Parliament for Wigan in 1780, a seat he held until 1784, and then represented King's Lynn between 1784 and 1809. The latter year he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords.

During the American War of Independence his kinsman George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (of the first creation), as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, appointed him Lieutenant-Colonel of the East Norfolk Militia. After the earl died, Horatio was promoted to succeed him as Colonel of the West Norfolk Militia. On his own death in 1822, he was succeeded in command by his son Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford.

Family Lord Orford was twice married. He married firstly Sophia, daughter of Charles Churchill and granddaughter of Robert Walpole, in 1781. After her death in 1797, he married secondly Catherine, daughter of Reverend James Tunstall, in 1806. She died the following year. Lord Orford survived her by 15 years and died in June 1822. He was succeeded in the earldom by his son, Horatio.